China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) announced on Wednesday that it will invest more than three billion yuan (about US$384 million) to develop and produce civilian helicopters.

AVIC II, China's only state-run manufacturer of helicopters, has set a target of becoming one of the world's leading helicopter suppliers in the next 12 years.

"To realize the target, AVIC II will increase international cooperation in research, manufacturing, marketing and after-sale services to meet customers' needs around the world," general manager Zhang Hongbiao said.

Technical cooperation with the Eurocopter Group, AugustaWestland and Hewlett-Packard Canada will enable AVIC II to produce helicopters with its own design, AVIC II says.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2007)